Polyketide reductases in defense-related parasorboside biosynthesis in Gerbera hybrida share processing strategies with microbial polyketide synthase systems.

Plant polyketides are well-known for their crucial functions in plants and their importance in the context of human health. They are synthesized by type III polyketide synthases (PKSs) and their final functional diversity is determined by post-PKS tailoring enzymes. Gerbera hybrida is rich in two defense-related polyketides: gerberin and parasorboside.